Toploader torque capacity

[bryaneidins]

I have got to replace the input and output shaft on my toploader as they are worn along with other bits and pieces. Im considering replacing it with the big in and out but I'm concerned about machining the tail housing for the big bearing. Does anyone have any advice/experience doing a conversion.

[garyv]

When I converted a small in/out to a big in/out I shipped my tail shaft to David Kee and he did the conversion
for me. I also bought all my parts from him.  Was worth it to know it was done right.  I think it cost about 70 or $80 plus the shipping.
garyv
 

[cammerfe]

FWIW, my '64 Custom 427-T was delivered to me about the middle of February of that year. It came with a T-10. In either March or April, before Detroit or Milan opened for the season, I left work at T&C at midnight one night and on granny-shifting into second I twisted off the output shaft. The Executive Engineer at T&C, Bruno Zava, obliged me and I was given (on a trade, mind you) a Top-loader. The switch-over to the TL was coming soon but they weren't in the showrooms yet. Nicely, mine was a big in-'n'-out version. I had to supply for myself the additional peripheral parts such as clutch disc and yoke.

I never again had any sort of trouble except for having to replace the spring that kept the clutch-fork and the pushrod together. But that's another story.

KS

[machoneman]

Ken did you break T-loaders while racing? I do remember the input shafts snapping off a pal's Galaxie right in front of the bearing, leaving the bearing cover intact. 

[cammerfe]

My DD Custom never had any trans trouble after I put in the TL. Using a 3.50 rear gear, I pulled the face off the clutch disc but no trans trouble. Likewise the T-Bolt---no trouble at all.

We went through several C6s in the CJ but most of that was getting the 'flywheel' (flex-plate) balanced right for the 428. They weren't in production yet and we hand-built one and put the weight on---off by 180 degrees.

KS

[Dan859]

Just for followup, regardless of the car I put it in, I'm probably looking at an overall weight of 3500-4000 pounds.  That doesn't really seem like a "light' car to me.  It'll be street-driven in the summer only.  I'll likely take it to the track for a test and tune day, basically just to get some idea of what the car is running, and to have an actual time slip.  I'm not planning on racing it on a regular basis at the track, although I can't say there won't be a "stoplight drag" from time to time.  Given this scenario, would a big in/big out toploader be adequate?  David Kees has rebuilt units for about $2500, which seems like a good price compared to what's listed on Ebay, etc.  Thanks, Dan

[e philpott]

from Kee you can get a Big in Big out wide ratio if your going for new ..... I bought my BIBO top loader from a guy that converted it to wide ratio in the early 70's , drag race only from 70's to around mid 90's in a 63 427 galaxy running mid 11's at 4000 lbs ..... I bought it around 5 years ago and installed stock un-cut synchro's and been running on street since ...... not sure of the factory torque rating but my unit seems to be pretty durable

[fryedaddy]

We went through several C6s in the CJ but most of that was getting the 'flywheel' (flex-plate) balanced right for the 428. They weren't in production yet and we hand-built one and put the weight on---off by 180 degrees.

KS

back around 1985-86 i went to my local ford dealer looking for a flexplate for my 428cj with auto.i had to order it from ford.months went by then anderson ford called and said they had my flywheel.when i picked it up the guy at the parts counter said,we had to break out the mold and make a few.he said they made 5 flywheels.i gave 135 dollars in 1985 for 1

[bryaneidins]

When I converted a small in/out to a big in/out I shipped my tail shaft to David Kee and he did the conversion
for me. I also bought all my parts from him.  Was worth it to know it was done right.  I think it cost about 70 or $80 plus the shipping.
garyv

Bit tricky for me to send to Dave as I'm in the uk.

[cammerfe]

We went through several C6s in the CJ but most of that was getting the 'flywheel' (flex-plate) balanced right for the 428. They weren't in production yet and we hand-built one and put the weight on---off by 180 degrees.

KS

back around 1985-86 i went to my local ford dealer looking for a flexplate for my 428cj with auto.i had to order it from ford.months went by then anderson ford called and said they had my flywheel.when i picked it up the guy at the parts counter said,we had to break out the mold and make a few.he said they made 5 flywheels.i gave 135 dollars in 1985 for 1

I have to admit to being a bit puzzled. FoMoCo called the C6 'flexplate' a flywheel at least at the manufacturing level. It consisted of a stamped steel disc with the ring-gear welded on by 'Electron Beam Welding' and a separate weight, (for a 428) also attached by welding. There aren't any cast parts in it. Perhaps he was being facetious.

KS